Aiken School

Aiken School is a public elementary school in West Hartford, Connecticut, for kids in grades PK–5. It has about 418 students and a student–teacher ratio of about 13:1. Along with social-emotional learning programs, the school has a full curriculum that includes world languages, art, music, physical education, and library programs. The school has a diverse student body, with about 42% of students being minorities, mostly Hispanic and Asian. The students do well in school, with about 72% of them being good at math and 77% being good at reading. Aiken is one of the best elementary schools in West Hartford and one of the best in Connecticut. It focuses on academic excellence, community involvement, and a positive school culture, which is supported by programs like the WISE behavior initiative and its "Swoop the Owl" mascot.

The West Hartford Board of Education has approved a $214.7 million budget for the next school year. This shows that they are putting more money into running and improving schools. The town is also putting in 12 raised crosswalks near schools as part of its Vision Zero road safety program. These are meant to slow down traffic and make it safer for students to arrive and leave school. Also, West Hartford will get hundreds of new early childhood education slots because of a new statewide endowment that was set up to increase the number of preschool and daycare spaces.

Q1. What kinds of elementary schools are there in West Hartford?

Ans. West Hartford has a mix of public and private elementary schools, including magnet schools, dual-language immersion schools, and schools in the neighborhood.

Q2. How does the district help students from different backgrounds?

Ans. Schools put a lot of effort into programs that celebrate different cultures, help English Language Learners (ELL), and encourage learning that is open to all and aware of other cultures.

Q3. Do elementary school kids have things to do after school?

Ans. Yes, students can join clubs for the arts, music, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), sports, and other activities that help them be creative and learn new things.

Q4. What can families do to help schools in West Hartford?

Ans. Parents can join PTAs, help with school events, go to conferences, and take part in programs that get people involved in their neighborhoods.

Q5. What safety steps do West Hartford elementary schools take?

Ans. To keep students safe, schools keep their entrances safe, hold regular drills, watch over students as they come and go, and follow safety rules that apply to the whole district.